Sprinkler system



Jan. 11, 1955 G. K. ELMENHORST SPRINKLER SYSTEM 3- Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1952 I SR m 0 mm m E K m w 6 CYEZMEE;

G. K. ELMENHORST Jan. 11, 1955 SPRINKLER SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1952 Gerri! K. E lmenhos/ IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 11, 1955 G. K. ELMENHORST 2,699,211

1 SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed May 19, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ger/if K. E/men/rorsf INVENTOR.

United States Patent SPRINKLER SYSTEM Gerrit K. Elmenhorst, Easton, Pa. Application May 19, 1952, Serial No. 288,654 1 Claim. (Cl. 169-17) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in sprinkler systems, namely, automatic sprinkler systems used in buildings for extinguishing fire, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler system which is highly dependable, instantaneous in operation and which eliminates certain disadvantages associated with sprinkler systems of conventional types.

This object is achieved by employing sub-atmospheric pressure in the sprinkler piping and providing fire-responsive means for reducing the vacuum, whereby the piping is automatically and instantly filled with water which is discharged through sprinkler heads.

By employing vacuum in the piping, drawn into the piping so that it sprinkler heads. Moreover, the absence of air in the piping avoids an undesirable situation where such air must first be expelled and blown on the fire before water can take its place.

The air-tight piping used in the invention excludes dust and other foreign matter and any leakage or defects therein may be readily detected. In addition, the airtight piping with sub-atmospheric pressure therein presents no problems of condensation of moisture and imposes no strain on the sprinkler heads under normal conditions.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and other such objects and features as may become apparent as the specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the sprinkler system constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the control valve unit in its closed position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but illustrating the control valve unit in its open position;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 66 in Figure 2;

h Figure 7 is an elevational view of one of the sprinkler eads;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 88 in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the sprinkler head;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 10-10 in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is an elevational view, partly broken away illustrating the temperature responsive unit for automatically energizing the system.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several vlews.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to Figure l which illustrates the system as a Whole, the general reference character 10 indicates a supply pipe for water under pressure, the same being connected to an adapter 12 of a vacuum responsive control valve unit designated generally by the reference character 14. This unit also has an adapter or connecwater is actually quickly reaches the tion 16 communicating with the sprinkler pipe 18, the latter having one or more branches 20 provided with sprinkler heads 22.

In addition, temperature responsive means 26 are provided on one of the branches 20 for energizing the entire system in the presence of fire.

The control valve unit 14 comprises a box-shaped housing 28 having the adapters 12, 16 at the respective bottom and top thereof, the adapter 12 projecting somewhat into the housing and aifording a seat 30 for an inlet valve 32. This valve is pivoted in the housing at 34.

An annular flange 38 is provided on the bottom wall of the housing 28 and its upper edge affords a seat 40 for a congol valve 42, the latter being hinged to the flange 38 at A sprinkler line valve 48 is pivoted at 50 in the connection 16 and is engageable with a seat 52. The valve 48 is provided with a recess 56 to receive a locking latch 68 which is pivoted in the housing 28 at 62 and is engageable by a connecting rod 64 pivoted to the control valve 42, at 66. It will be observed that when the valve 42 is in its closed position, the connecting rod 64, abutting the latch 60, will lock the sprinkler line valve 48 in its closed position, but when the control valve 42 is swung to its open position as shown in Figure 3, the connecting rod 64 will be disengaged from the latch 60 and the valve 48 will be unlocked.

A connecting link 68 is pivoted in the flange 38 at 70 and has a downwardly projecting lobe 72 provided intermediate the ends thereof to engage the upper surface of the valve 32, While an upturned end portion 74 of the link 68 is engageable with the underside of the valve 42. This arrangement provides a leverage action, whereby opening of the valve 32 will automatically swing the valve 42 to its open position and, of course, simultaneously unlock the latch 60 to facilitate opening of the valve 48.

The housing 28 affords a large chamber 76 therein, while the flange 38 coacts with the valves 32, 42, when closed, in defining a relatively small chamber 78 be tween the two valves, as shown in Figure 2. A drain pipe 80, provided with a shut-off valve 82, communicates with the chamber 78, while a vacuum line 84 extends from the chamber 78 to the interior of the sprinkler pipe adapter 16.

Another vacuum line 86 extends from the adapter 16 to suitable means such as an air pump 88, driven by a motor 90, for the purpose of discharging air from the sprinkler piping 18, 20, as well as from the chamber 78 through the medium of the line 84.

A line 90a extends from the chamber 76 of the housing 28 to actuate a suitable alarm, such as for example, an electric bell 92 which is in circuit with switch means 94 actuated by a lever 96 of a diaphragm unit 98.

Each of the sprinkler heads 22 comprises a screw threaded, substantially tubular body 100 carrying a yoke 102 equipped with the usual deflector 104, the body 100 having an outlet port 106 which is normally closed by a closure cap side thereof. It will be observed that as long as vacuum exists in the sprinkler piping, the cap 108 will be sustained in its closed position by atmospheric pressure. However, when water under pressure enters the piping, the cap 108 will be instantly dislodged, and a suitable chain 112 may be employed for connecting the cap to the yoke 102 so as to prevent the cap from becoming lost.

Auxiliary means may be provided for sustaining the cap 108 in position, such as for example, a spring 114 may be secured to the underside of the cap to frictionally engage the inner wall of the body 100, the provision of this auxiliary means being essential to prevent displacement of the cap under conditions when vacuum does not exist in the sprinkler piping.

In a modified form of the sprinkler head shown in the accompanying Figures 9 and 10, the, sprinkler head body 116 is provided with a closure cap 118 having a gasket 120 at the under side thereof, the cap 118 being connected to the body 116 by a length of chain 122, while the auxiliary means for sustaining the cap in position comprise a plurality of hook-shaped springs 124 which are 108 having a gasket at the undersecured to the cap and engage a shoulder 126 at the upper end of the valve body.

If desired, an insert 128, having a spirally fluted outer wall, may be provided within the body 116 for imparting rotary action to a stream of water passing through the sprinkler head.

With reference now to the accompanying Figure 11 which illustrates the automatic means, responsive to changes in temperature, for actuating the system, these means comprise a tubular body 130 provided with a yoke 132 having an abutment member 134 at the top thereof, the body 130 being equipped with a closure cap 136 and a fusible link 138 being interposed between this closure cap and the abutment 134. However, a compression spring 140 is interposed between the underside of the cap 136 and the lower portion of the yoke 132, whereby the closure cap is automatically dislodged when the link 138 melts in the presence of high temperature.

Finally, it is to be noted that a manually actuated shutoff valve 142 is provided on the water supply pipe 10 in advance of the control valve unit 14.

Having thus described the construction of the invention, its operation will now be explained.

In the absence of a fire, the manual valve 142 is open while the sprinkler heads 22 are closed and the temperature responsive means 26 are also closed. Moreover, the valves 32, 42 and 48 of the control valve unit 14 are also in their closed positions and with the air pump 88 in operation, sub-atmospheric pressure will be maintained in the sprinkler piping as well as in the chamber 78.

Sub-atmospheric pressure in the chamber 78 sustains the valves 32, 42 in their closed positions and the valve 48 is prevented from opening by the locking latch 60, which opening would otherwise be caused by the subatmospheric pressure in the sprinkler piping.

In the presence of a fire, abnormal temperature will melt the link 138 and the spring 140 will dislodge the cap 136 of the temperature responsive means 26, so that the amount of vacuum in the interior of the sprinkler piping and in the chamber 78 will be substantially reduced. As soon as this occurs, water under pressure in the supply pipe 10 will cause the valves 32, 42 to open, thus also unlatching the valve 48 which will be opened by the pressure of water in the chamber 76. Thereupon water under pressure will travel through the sprinkler 4 piping and dislodge the caps 108 (or 118) of the sprinkler heads 22. Simultaneously, water pressure in the line 90 will actuate the diaphragm 98 so as to close the switch 94 and energize the alarm 92.

After the fire is extinguished, the manual valve 142 is shut ofi, the sprinkler head caps replaced and a new fusible link 138 installed after replacing the cap 136. Any water present in the system is drained through the line 80, and after the valves 32, 42, 48 are manually closed, operation of the pump 88 will re-establish vacuum in the system, so that upon opening of the manual valve 142, the system will be in readiness for the next cycle of operation. The housing 28 is provided with a removable cover plate 36 so that access may be gained for resetting the valves 32, 42, 48.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a vacuum deluge type sprinkler system, a vacuumresponsive valve unit comprising a housing having a water inlet port, a sprinkler line connection provided on said housing, a normally closed sprinkler line valve provided in said connection, a normally closed inlet valve provided on said inlet port, an annular flange provided in said housing and surrounding said inlet valve, said flange affording a valve seat, a control valve connected to said flange and coacting with said seat, said flange defining a chamber between said control and inlet valves when said valves are closed, a vacuum line connected to said chamber, an operative connection between the inlet and control valves, and an operative connection between the control and sprinkler line valves, whereby the valves may be simultaneously opened.

Granger Aug. 2, 1887 Van Houten Ma 27 1947 

